WOMEN WINE PROFESSIONALS TACKLE WORK ISSUES HEAD-ON IN A WEBINAR HOSTED BY THE COURT OF MASTER SOMMELIERS
by Randy Caparoso
In March of this year, the Court of Master Sommeliers hosted a Zoom “listening session” addressing the challenges of, as they put it, “mom somms.” The event was kicked off by Emily Wines, MS, and moderated by Jen Huether, MS and mother of two. Three San Francisco–based sommeliers sat on the panel: Rebecca Fineman, MS (who has one child); Shelley Lindgren (two children); and Haley Moore (two children). Melissa Monosoff, MS, pitched in as a co-host.
Starting with some straight talk, Huether reflected on “how hard it is for any parent in our field, especially mothers, who are most likely the primary caregivers . . . during crucial times, [for instance] while breastfeeding or healing and bonding with a baby. Sadly, mothers often leave the field or move into a different element of the wine business instead of sticking to being a sommelier on the floor.”
Monosoff is not a mother, but she knows full well the inequities women face: “We are not asked the same questions as men during interviews,” she noted. “We’re often asked if we plan to have children, which is illegal in most states. We have to justify the gaps on our résumés for when we’ve been away having children. Opportunities, pay, and schedules are unequal, even when women have better qualifications and stronger skill sets. One thing we know, though: The ultimate skill set of parenting is multitasking. Efficiency is key, at home or in restaurants!”
Moore, who had both of her children while serving as a multiunit wine director, addressed one of the most fraught situations for women: requesting maternity leave. “It’s about finding what makes you invaluable to your organization and owning it,” she said. “Maybe it’s financials, maybe wine training—what is it that your company values most? Make yourself irreplaceable.” After all, she pointed out, “Companies are legally compelled to support your maternity leave, but it’s much easier for everyone if they want to support you. When telling your boss you’re pregnant, go in with a plan. . . . ‘This is how we will prepare; this is what will happen while I’m gone and when I return.’ It doesn’t matter if the plan changes, it shows that you know that what you are doing impacts the business and that you care about making it work for everyone.”
Other takeaways from the session:
- Learn to delegate, teach others how to do your job, and create systems for doing the majority of work from home.
- Recognize the pressures you put on yourself. The inevitable guilt you feel for being neither at home nor at work enough is a waste of energy.
- You need not choose between career and family: Do your part to break the stereotype that mothers cannot be the ultimate professionals. Fineman passed her MS exam with a baby on her hip.
- End the stigma of tasting with children around—normalize the role that wine plays in everyday life.
No one expected the discussion to solve all the problems shared by women sommeliers around the world, but as Moore put it afterward, “The overarching message was that being a mother and sommelier is tough but possible. . . . Our goal was to inspire other mothers.”
